Fragments of Darkness

[Twilight Path]

**From Silhouette of Moon (Manhattan)**

Sarah noted they were now in front of a door. They were in a place that seemed much like the castle she had first landed in. Every new place seemed similar to another. This castle was hard to define, it was like every other castle so far. Acteur's limb holding her so close felt so natural. "Where are we Acteur?" She spoke, uncertain she could help him in battle this time. Her mind had wanted to recover enough to at least help whatever he had to do. However, her mind kept drawing the understanding she had no way of drawing out any more power at this rate.

[Acteur de la Noir]

*From Manhattan*

Acteur stroked his porcelain chin thoughtfully as he gazed up at the enigmatic keep which towered before him and Sarah, the features of his mask presently set in a perplexed frown. "I must confess that t'is a bit of a mystery to me as well...Maestro's edict was a tad on the side of cryptic." The puppet-turned-puppeteer lifted a hand and extended his index finger, pointing directly at the castle. "To hear the shadows tell it, the master of this domain is a thorn in the side of our masterstroke..." With those words, Acteur swept a gloved palm across his mask, the features inexplicably changing in that brief moment of obscurement...to a sinister leer with pointed fangs, and eyes that gleamed with sinister purpose. "...And we can't have that, can we?"

In the next moment, Acteur's gloved palm swept across his mask once more, restoring his smile to its usual form--that peculiar mixture of spooky and jovial--and thus, his usual self. "Well, then," he mused with a chuckle. "Let's see if the master of the house is home, shall we?"

With a decisive clap of his hands, the Phantom Puppeteer began striding towards the house, throwing his sable cape open as he spread his arms out low to his sides. From his bone-thin fingers flew threads of darkness, sinking into the long shadow cast by his scarecrow physique...and from that blackness, enigma sprang forth. Several smaller pools of darkness, breaking away from the main mass and sliding across the ground of their own volition...and, if Sarah watched them go, she might catch the telltale gleam of ghostly yellow eyes in these smaller shadows.

If all went well, those shadows would streak towards the castle doors and disappear beneath them...and, by the time Sarah and Acteur arrived, those ornate gates would swing open of their own accord, with a quintet of imp-like Shadows standing ready to welcome them in with all the ceremony of royal doormen.

But you never know...

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]*From Shantotto's Study*

Shantotto was at this time, checking upon her students and what they have accomplished with their new abilities. She still had her own plans to accomplish as well. Even if being bothered by an old witch was to come and go. Though while in her studies and searching, a strange presence had begun to linger.

After a time, the Cardian Shantotto had sent to deliver the letter to Jenova had finally returned. The Cardian spoke of finding Jenova with a iron giant of sorts, as well as a strange dark aura forming in the air. This aura, and this strange presence she felt within her study.

Shantotto took these hints as something fool beginning to flourish. She quickly turned to her orb to check what this presence was. Soon, she would find 2 strangers lingering around her domain. Unsure of who or what they were, except for the air becoming increasingly heavy. "You three, now come to me! Appear before our unsought guests, and treat them like our unwanted pests! Cane or Curse!, which ever is worse! O~hohohoho!"

She quickly, gathered her Cardians together. The three Aces then assembled. Quickly as they did they were gone, as Shantotto then warped all three to the entrance, as to great her rude guests.[/glow]

[Twilight Path]

Sarah let Acteur move forward first, noting that she could draw some power still out with her piccolo. If she really pushed she could do it. Acteur's attempt to enter the room seemed to be stopped or halted by the appearance of strange creatures. It reminded her slightly of a moving coat rack, rather than something as an enemy.

'Who are we trying to see?!' She had seen quite a few strange things in her time, but she kept seeing even odder items around each world. She raised her piccolo, hoping that Acteur and herself could handle whatever the three strange wheeled creatures were.

[Acteur de la Noir]

Seeing the way Sarah's hand strayed to her piccolo--that instrument of dark enchantment--Acteur lifted a gloved hand to the musician's shoulders, clasping it gently as he dipped his head forward in a gentle nod. "Conserve your strength, my dear," he whispered into her ear with a silken voice. "These lesser minions aren't worth your talents."

Saying thus, Acteur tipped his hat and dipped forward in a mocking bow, addressing the approaching Aces with jovial genteel that was belied by he haunting edge to his voice: "You answer for the master of the house, I presume? Regrettably, my business lies with the master alone--I've little time to spend on servants. But, since I'd so hate for you to find your efforts wasted..."

This last was punctuated by Acteur swiping his other hand--the one that was still turned downward, drawing threads of darkness from his own shadow--outward, as though sowing seeds. Or rather, dragon's teeth--for, summoned on those glittering strings, several Neo-Shadows sprang from the Phantom Puppeteer's shadow, their sleek and wiry bodies larger and more imposing than those of their imp-like brethern as they spread out in front of their master and his apprentice. Facing the three Cardians, they brandished clawed fingers and flicked their jagged, backward-sweeping antennae as though anticipating an attack.

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Unlike Shantotto, the Cardian's were the lesser of mages. However little to these two could they actually fathom the power of these three. To battle just one of Shantotto's Cardian guards was foolish yet a brave attempt, to fight the trio of her guards at once was simply foolish.

Acteur with his sinister look, raised a hand with silvery threads. This would produce some vicious looking heartless. Some the likes Shantotto's Cardian's saw all but once. None the less, the Cardian's stood still and silent till these appeared. Once the Heartless appeared, the Cardian Ace of Diamonds the Red Mage of the three, set of a massive storm of roman numbers one through twelve swirled it's form, flashing magnificent colors. It began casting a volley of spells in massive secession. Within seconds the three had a full range of protection spells that hailed through the air. Once finished, it used a strange potion of sorts. The effect of this was only known to the Cardian's. Once finished, the Cardian Ace of Diamonds took it's offensive.

As the Cardian of Diamonds finished his casting, the Cardian Ace of Hearts was up. This was the White Mage of the three. It quickly began to use it's own set of protection buffs, to ensure all around status. Once finished, the Cardian of Hearts took it's offensive.

Soon after the Cardian Ace of Hearts finished, the final, the Cardian Ace of Spades used "Manawall." After it's cast, it spoke one and only one word, "EN%*gAg@e" Once it spoke, it's staff slammed to the ground with a blinding speed. A quick flash of red and pink hue's lite the room. Without even speaking a word, the Cardian of Spades unleashed "Bindga." Once cast all within it's range became ensnared and unable to move from where they stood. This was to ensure absolutely no escape.

**************************************

Back in Shantotto's Study

Shantotto wanted to see what exactly was going on in the entrance to her domain. She notices something most irregular in the entrances pathway ...[/glow]

[Twilight Path]

Sarah's body relaxed a little, placing her piccolo back into her pocket. She could trust Acteur's abilities. The strange coat racks, or whatever the wheeled things were had access to power as well. Or so it seemed from the amount of spells they could somehow use. She tried to focus on what could possibly get them to whoever was within the room. However, it became hard to do when a strange spell kept her in place, making her unable to even reach for the Piccolo she carried. 'If I was stronger...I could be able to do more than this. Acteur needs me to help and I can't pull out enough strength to play music right now...'

[Acteur de la Noir]

Acteur, for his part, gave no response at first. He simply stood there for a moment, his usual smile frozen on his mask in complete silence. His hand remained out at his side, threads of darkness stretching into the shadows in search of further reinforcements. All the while, those haunting yellow eyes flickered with manic intensity--the sole windows into what was currently going through the mind of the Phantom Puppeteer. And, if these subtle signs were anything to go by, then said puppeteer was rather unsettled by the state of affairs--how quickly the cards had been dealt against him.

But in the next moment, Acteur's demeanor was broken by a thoughtful hum, the fingers of his other hand coming up to stroke his chin as he looked this way and that, considering the multi-fold barriers that had risen around him and Sarah. Then to his Neo-Shadows, who prowled along the perimeter of their unexpected prison and clawed viciously at the magical walls. Then to Sarah, to whom he offered a gentle nod, as though to reassure her.

And then, back to the Cardians...at which point, the Phantom Puppeteer abruptly offered a gleeful laugh and rolled his lanky shoulders in a broad shrug as though this was nothing more than an elaborate jest, all in good fun. "Oho! Rather well-played, I must admit!" he remarked amicably. "Clearly, you lot are more than just throwaway pawns!" A pause, and the bone-thin fingers of his free hand found the brim of his hat, the shadow of his hand and hat playing across his mask and leaving an apologetic frown in its wake. "Nevertheless, my business remains with your master. I don't suppose she can be convinced to entertain her guests in person...?"

At that moment, the doors to the castle were pushed open, and a quintet of imp-like Shadows--the smaller cousins of the NeoShadows that prowled in the cage of light--came scurrying out in evident panic, their antennae twitching wildly. As they scattered in all directions, Acteur turned towards the castle door, tilting his head to one side in curiosity, "Oh?"

All the while, his other hand--now hidden beneath his sable cape--continued to dance, shadow threads stretching into the pool of darkness at his feet.

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]The Cardian's of three stood in their place, waiting to judge what was to come of these unwelcome guests. The Cardian's had but one concern, destruction of the intruders. Though machine, they weren't reckless.

Soon, Acteur made a slight movement of a hand. He asked if the master would be along soon. However this was to no avail. The Cardian's simply stood in place, waiting for the next attack. Acteur at this time was busy summoning more pawns to invade Shantotto's dominion. Soon the doors to the castle would open wide, and a long trek of smaller black heartless came to flourish the grounds of battle.

For the Cardian's, this was just a mere nuisance. They knew the real fight would be with the puppeteer himself. The Cardian Ace of Spades said yet again a simple phrase. "D&*Est^*r$#uC*T*%iON." Once spoke, the Cardian Ace of Diamonds raised it's staff high into the air and spoke, "GR*%aV*i%G&*A." With this spell the small shadow creatures became enveloped in black and purple orb. The orbs around each creature soon gave off a low and deep humming noise that echoed the chamber. Each orb slowly fell to the ground and soon, vanished, leaving a gravity spell on each creature. This would dramatically reduce how fast the creatures could move.

Soon after gravity was cast, Cardian Ace of Spades raised it's staff. "Stonaga IV" came shortly after. It's main target, the small heartless. Once cast, a great majority of the small creatures each soon found themselves in the center of it's own cracking ground. Within moment massive spikes of stone shot out from the ground several feet into the air. Though not all the small creatures were in range, the spell itself should be enough to show a taste of the Cardian's power.

****************************************************

From Shanototto's Study

Shantotto was still curious as to what caused the crumbling stone at the entrance of the castle. When a few minuets passed, Acteur had summoned smaller heartless that came through the gates. She had little concern that these, heartless, were any match for her guardians.

As she watched her Cardian's weave their spells, she noticed the the ground on the outside wasn't as it's normal shimmer. She merely thought Oldmecia had maybe had her fun and left the weaker pawn for her to finish. Shantotto simply sighed to this fact. Though she thought, where had Oldmecia been. She thought it had been quiet around her study as of late.[/glow]

[Twilight Path]

Sarah's body seemed to relax a little, not sure if the spell had worn off or if she had just forgotten it was there. The weird coat racks seemed to be able to keep up with whatever move Acteur had made to try and get the upper hand. Her ability would help, she thought, if only the power to influence them was inside her. She was uncertain of how much power she could draw even if it would be effective.

That left the question of how they could possibly past those strange creatures. What could possibly overpower the seemingly invincible things in front of them? Whoever their master was must be powerful to make the contraptions cast such odd, yet practical spells.

[Acteur de la Noir]

Watching as the peculiar Cardians set loose with another volley of formidable spells to deal with the scattering Shadows--once again demonstrating their ability to combine separate elements for a formidable singular effect--Acteur stroked his chin and let out a thoughtful hum, his demeanor both impressed and contemplative. Throwaway minions, these constructs were certainly not...thus, by definition, coming at them with the lesser among the Heartless ranks--the Shadows and their Neo counterparts--was a doomed venture from act one. Clearly, it was time to up the proverbial ante...he'd been playing the fool for quite long enough. Now that he had an idea of what to expect from these three, it was time to go on the offensive.

Thus it was that Acteur looped an arm around Sarah's shoulders, his haunting yellow eyes glittering intently behind his theatrical mask as they found her pale violet pools. "What's the old saying, cherie?" he asked with jovial nonchalance. "When you want something done right, best to do it yourself?"

Then Acteur's other hand revealed itself with a flourish, throwing his cape open as it brandished a host of glittering black strands drawn from the darkness of his own shadow. This time, however, the Phantom Puppeteer didn't bother with foot soldiers--or, for that matter, warrior-type Heartless whose combat style focused on the realm of the physical. Instead, it was a trio of mage-robed, scepter-wielding Heartless that were summoned forth from the darkness...those magic-receptive creatures known as the Wizards. Nor were they alone--on either side of the three Wizards, there floated a diminutive figure clad in long white robes and cylindrical headpiece, armed with a spellbook twice their size and width. Between these two sages--the rarely-seen RuneMasters--and the three Wizards, it was a group committed wholly to magic.

There was no need for spoken commands--the whispers that Acteur sent along his shadow-strings when he made the summons had made sure of that. As soon as they had emerged, the Runemasters turned to their Wizard counterparts and--most curiously, to any onlookers--would immediately throw their books open, reciting a line of arcane script with one hand while pointing dramatically at their brethren with the other. Amid the whispering hisses of DarkSpeak, there was a flare of fiery scarlet from one Runemaster's book, a contrasting burst of icy blue-white from its counterpart's tome...and then the Wizards would find themselves hit from both sides by a volley of ten magical bolts--five scorching orbs of Fire, and five sub-zero Ice crystals.

And that's when things REALLY got chaotic.

As those who made a habit of studying the Heartless--particularly those dedicated scholars who'd taken the time to track down heroes from every known battle against the denizens of the Darkness--could attest, Wizards had a trait that made them especially formidable: when introduced to magic, they didn't just resist attack spells...they absorbed them! Further, they turned the excess energy to their gain, fueling a frenzy of spell-casting beyond their normal abilities. And this time was no different--as the Fire and Ice magic struck their purple-and-azure robes, the trio of Wizards shivered with what could only be considered expiration, the gems on their bat-winged scepters ablaze with overflowing magical power. That power was soon put to use--as one, the three Wizards pointed their channeling instruments at the Cardians. And, as one, hissed an incantation that, from DarkSpeak, translated thus: "THUNDERGA!!"

A blazing torrent of lightning erupted from the Wizard's staves, hammering against the multi-layered barrier that the Cardians had put up. Bolstered by the magic of the RuneMasters, the arcane bolts pulsed and crackled, as though seeking to break through the protective fields and scramble the inner workings of the clockwork magi.

In the end, the Cardians' defenses would most likely hold, in the end--they WERE after all, hardly minions. But the attack had served its intended purpose--when the blinding glare from the lightning faded, the three familiars would find that a massive cloud of ebon smoke had erupted where Acteur and Sarah had been trapped. Thick and tinged with penumbral purple, the magician-worthy fog obscured all vision of the twilight duet...

..until the smoke cleared, revealing...several of them. A devious trick, courtesy of the technique known as Phantom Dopplegangers. And, to a pair, free of the binding spell--no doubt the magic powering it had been disrupted during the attack. And finally, to compound it all, came the taunting chuckle of the Phantom Puppeteer, seemingly from each of the illusions at the same time:

"So then, my formidable familiars...which is true, and which is false?"

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]Acteur was indeed what the Cardian's had expected. Soon after the lesser heartless had been destroyed, he began summoning more and bigger, more powerful heartless. These that came to flourish, were none other, than descendent's of dark magic. The Cardian's still standing in their triangle frame, all twirled their stave's in the air before they finally slammed into the ground. They were now ready to use full force.

After a brief moment the Cardian, Ace of Hearts, began it's casting. While at the same time, the heartless army of Witch's, and Sage's Acteur had summon began their retaliation. Spells of Ice, fire and lightning began to rain down on the Cardian trio. They however, remained still. Whether this was due to fear or strategy, the heartless would not be able to tell. The Cardian's stood and took the full force of every last hit.

As the bombardment of spells had lapsed, the Cardian's stood in place. Their positions unchanged. Moments before the volley, the Cardian of Hearts had begun casting a spell. Fortunately as the volley was engaged, it seemed that no one had seen "Diaga II" cast. This spell was very bright, and almost colorless. A orb had formed above the heartless mages heads. The orb would explode into smaller ones and vanish over each of the heartless heads. This was to ensure the Cardian's that no shadows or spare images were around the mages for protection. "Diaga II" would make sure to remove them quickly.

The Cardian's remained unmoved, however their reason for this was about to be made known. Once the volley of spells ended, the Cardian, Ace of Diamonds and Ace of Hearts began to have a sort of crumbling stone. Which began to crack, fall, and vanish before hitting the ground. "StoneSkin" A spell even the lowest of black mages has as part of their arsenal. A spell which has it's own life to absorb the damage of any attack ... to a point.
However how hard the heartless may have tried, their attack was but a scratch.

The Cardian, Ace of Spades had notice Acteur had made clones. But for Cardian mages, shadows or blink spells are useless when confronted with area attack spells. The Cardian, Ace of Spades decided to open attack the mages first, while the Cardian, Ace of Diamonds began to reapply buffs. The Cardian, Ace of Hearts turned to Acteur's clones.

While the Ace of Hearts' attention was at Acteur, Ace of Spades began to chain three spells. The Ace of Diamonds, being a time manipulator, almost instantly put up "StoneSkin" once again on itself and the Ace of Spades. The Ace of Spades spoke but a moment. "F^&ir#E*@TOm@%Elt*^I#cE." It was targeting a wizard who began the volley of ice spells. "Flare" was cast, and a massive inferno began to engulf the wizard, turning soon into a giant ball of fire. Only moments from then to explode. The Ace of Diamonds put "Refresh" on the Ace of Spades just a second after. The Ace of Spades spoke once again. "W&*at*%Er$%to#Dr@oW%&n*Fl@%am#%E" A moment after "Flood" was cast on the fire wielding wizard. Soon, what seemed to be a small fountain between the wizards feet, erupted into a enormous upward waterfall, shooting tens of feet into the air. The Ace of Diamonds quick finished the lightning user. "$Lig#^hTn&I*&nI#%ng^G#rou%^ND#eD*&B@yEA%rt*H." Through it's fast casting abilities, "Stone IV" was quickly cast. Soon massive craig of stone shot fourth from below engulfing the mage.

The Cardian's stood in place, gauging what was left.

****************************************************

Back in Shantotto's Study

Shantotto continued to watch her wonderful creations decimate pawns. However she began to feel this was a ploy of sorts. Seeing the crumbled statues, the stained snow, intruders, and what looked to be a feather falling. This on top of the lapsed time of Oldmecia's meddling. After all, when Shantotto sent her Cardian's out to fight, there was always "rules" she had to follow. Those usually came from Ultimecia.

She began the question the events that were passing. She climbed down from her stool and decided to pay these visitors a visit of her own. She grabbed her staff, and other effects to ready her visit down below.[/glow]

[Twilight Path]

Sarah's mind relaxed a bit more when Acteur had placed his arm around her shoulders. It seemed that he had more than a few moves he had been planning. Lately, it had been hard to tell what she could see and what she was meant to see. She could easily see the dark creatures that Acteur summoned, but the coat racks had an amount of power that seemed to overpower them so easily it mattered little.

What sort of song would work? What kind of power could she even use to maintain it? Certainly she didn't know if there would be any effect even if she did play. Still, she had to give it a try for Acteur's sake. He had managed to hold himself long enough, so she should be able to draw even a little of the power she still held for him.

Slowly, she raised the still silver piccolo and began to play. A haunting melody began to play, creating her own stream of heartless to back up Acteur's own. She would use as much as she could of the power still inside her without totally exhausting her body. The heartless were small, but they would be enough for Acteur to make a move.

[Acteur de la Noir]

Next to Sarah, holding her close with one arm as they floated together--during the blast of smoke, they'd teleported (via Abraca Step) to up above the Cardians, leaving a group of fakes to draw their fire--Acteur de la Noit stroked his porcelain chin and let out a rather perturbed hiss as he watched the Cardians shrug off the punishing lightning storm--oh, accursed StoneSkin!--and launch their responding attack. "Hmm...these three have an answer for everything, don't they?"

For one thing, there was the matter of the Ace of Spades unleashing those three attack spells on the Wizards and their RuneMaster allies. Magic-resistant though they were, even they had their limits--particularly when hammered by elements opposite the ones they'd been casting. The RuneMaster that had been reciting the chilling incantation of the Ice spell emerged from the remnants of the Flare's explosion in a state of near-decimation, its robes charred and its massive tome reduced to cinders; the other Runemaster--the one who'd been casting Fire--came plummeting back down amid a cascade of magical Water droplets, slamming into the ground in a burst of bleeding darkmatter and sodden robes. As for the Wizards, who had been casting Thunderga...while their inherent ability to absorb magic took the mystic brunt of the attack, the physical impact of the erupting stone had most assuredly connected. Even as the Runemasters dissolved into blackness, the Wizards struggled to recover, their wands aloft as they hurled a volley of non-elemental magic bolts in attempt to provide themselves covering fire.

But the Cardians would soon discover that they could not attack with impunity--for, having been in close proximity to the Heartless magi when they were attacked, Acteur's phantom clones were likewise caught in the blasts. And lo, the Phantom Puppeteer's dopplegangers were more versatile than the typical illusion-clone...as each one reeled and flickered from the impact of water, fire, and rock, they erupted into bursts of unleashed magic. For that was the hidden dagger of these illusion clones--when they fell, they were enchanted to release a Gravity spell upon their attackers. Thus did crushing force descend upon the Cardians, a volley of individual spells that had coalesced into a large burst of light-swallowing darkness.

Watching the Gravity spell land on the clockwerk magi, Acteur's eyes gleamed wickedly. If prior events were any indication, the Cardians undoubtedly had some means of repelling this attack...but no matter. He'd taken that into account. To Sarah, he whispered in a voice that had dropped to a sinister, nocturnal whisper. "A dirge, my dear...something to lend this next attack lethal flight."

Then, in the fleeting moments while the Gravity spell hammered the Cardians, Acteur flung his cloak wide with his free arm, crowing aloud with dramatic intent: "Let's see how resilient you are against the encroaching inevitability of the nightmare! PHANTOM DAGGERS!!"

The command brought the darkness from his cloak in a serpentine wave, formed by magic into a volley of elegantly-wrought daggers. With glittering blades of crystallized ebon, the daggers shot downward in deadly concert--a rainfall of razor-edged darkness, descending on the clockwork magi who had proven such formidable adversaries. Could these elegant-yet-lethal blades, buffered by the lingering power of the Gravity spell, cut through the Cardians' defenses--through the Ace of Diamonds', in particular?

The next few moments would tell.

[Shantotto]

[glow=teal,2,300]The Cardian's stood as the retaliation of gravity was cast down upon them from the destruction of the heartless mages. Gravity would slow their movements, making it difficult to move from place in a timely manner. However these particular Cardian's build resistance to particular enfeebling magic every time it's cast upon them.

Soon, Acteur raised his hands to unleash a volley of knifes to rain down on the Cardian, Ace of Diamonds. It quickly raised it's staff to the air and chanted "Phalanx". A bright shield surrounded the Cardian and quickly vanished. This would help to reduce the damage from any attack directed at it's caster. Soon the volley began. Knives rained down and flashes of bright red's and white, gleamed through the room, from the phalanx shield. Fragments of stone chipped away as the knives crashed through the Cardian's phalanx. Once the volley was over, the Cardian, still standing, spoke a in a feeble tone. "D*e^&ST*ro$Y*". The Cardian's were now ready to unleash their potency.

The Cardian, Ace of Hearts, began the volley and soon to come onslaught with "Benediction". A massive halo like ring came to flourish over each of the Cardian's mechanical heads. Raining down a lavish, bright light on them, remove their gravity, curing all ailments, and restoring them to their pristine conditions. Soon after it began to cast "Diaga III"upon the remaining heartless. This would inhibit their defenses. It stood ready for it's next volley.

The Cardian, Ace of Diamonds, began it's volley with "Chainspell". Rings of roman numbers whirled around the Cardian in bright multiple colors. Casting time was now nullified. Spells cast were now instant. With it's mastery of enfeebling magic, and spell casting reduced, a rain of spells flourish over the heads of all of it's enemies."Silencega", "Paralyzega", "Blindga", "Slowga", "Bindga", "Poisonga", "Addlega". The spells cast in rapid succession gave it's enemies a silencing effect to stop them from casting, paralyze to inhibit their attacks, blindness to insure an attack would not land it's mark, slow to inhibit their attack speed. Bind to it's foes from escape, poison to land a damaging effect over time to weaken it's foe, and finally addle effect. Addle would ensure that any spell that could be cast would be double it's casting and recasting time. It stood ready, chainspell still activated for a few more minutes.

The Cardian, Ace of Spades, started it's assault using "Manafont". This enabled the Cardian to dip into the magics from within itself, and draw from it the power to cast any of it's spells without cost. The heartless mages being it's first target. With the Cardian, Ace of Diamonds enfeebles, casting would not be an issue for the Ace of Spades. "Thundaga IV" rained upon the heads of the few remaining mages and a couple lesser heartless that had been bound in their tracks. Within a few moments massive orbs of electric formed over their heads, unleashing a massive electric surge. It turned to the Acteur clones and "Blizzaga IV" was cast. Again, within moments massive staggering ice shards sprang fourth from the ground below, impaling a majority of the already weakened clones. It then turned it's attention to Acteur....

As the Cardian, Ace of Spades began to cast "Freeze" against the weakened Acteur, a bright massive rift appeared from the front of the gates. It's purple swirling light flooded the room. "Stun!" was shouted from just within the portal's rift. Shantotto stepped fourth from the rift as it closed. She had stopped her Cardian from it's decimating attacks. "Breakga!" was soon after shouted. Giant orbs surrounded the remaining heartless as well as Acteur and Sarah. This was a petrification spell. Though still able to hear, and see what was going on around them, any chance they had of leaving was now ... obliterated. They now stood in Shantotto's presence.

"O~hohohoho, They managed to push you all to your extreme?! Well I do say I am most impressed, they do seem quiet mean, but compared to me they are nothing more than a worthless peon." Shantotto walked near to Acteur's floating person. She began to float ever so softly to meet with her intruder face to face. "Hmmm." she hummed a moment, tilting her head and crossing her arms. "A confident one, aren't we." She then turned to Sarah. She simply stated "Ohoho! A marvelous joke!"

After she finished mocking her pray, it was on to business. She came back down to ground to examine the destruction that had be felled her castle. She knew all while this battle was fought, something was a miss. No rules to hold her down. No insufferable nagging. Something was out of place. After looking past the rubble of stone, she noticed outside through the snow covered ground, feathers black as ash. Blood staining the surroundings. Shantotto ears perked up for a moment, her arms dropping to the side. She began to walk toward what seemed to be a pool of blood just outside the castle gates. With her hand held out a feather from the sky above fell into Shantotto's hand. Where a soft floating feather fell to her hand, turned black, crumbling to ash. Confused as to what all it meant, she clutched her hand into a fist, turned and ran back into the corridor where the heartless, Acteur, Sarah and her Cardian guards still stood. For this brief moment her taru self began to panic.

Upon her entering, she became infuriated from the panic. She quickly retrieved her orb from a satchel she had. She used it's power to replay the past events which she had second guessed herself on all this time. Playing the orb back from moments passed, a war like scene was played the it's milky haze. Atticus, a demon like man, against Ultimecia!? A war had never been waged against the keepers of time, however, under normal circumstances, this would do little to upset the tarutaru. Ultimecia and Shantotto were after all two of the most powerful mages. Though she had to take into consideration, the second guessing of events, the attack on Castle Oblivion, and what seemed to be a war just outside. Her panic turned towards the side of terror. "What of this you cretins!? What is it that you came here to do!?" She shouted to Acteur and Sarah. She was having a feeling of things worse to come.

As she had turned her head, the final scene was witnessed. A single image of what seemed to be an impaled Ultimecia, at the hands of Atticus....[/glow]